"All is Calm, All is Bright"

I took a few moments today to put up the Christmas tree. 
It's beautiful and it, along with our other decorations, definitely put me in the Christmas spirit.
I don't think I have mentioned here, that I rejoined the MCO choir again this semester and next.  For three months, we have been having Thursday evening rehearsals and learning the 14 songs that we will be presenting in this Saturday's concerts.  Yesterday, I came down with a head cold and a touch of laryngitis...of course.  It's my body's way of dealing with anxiety and stress.  That's one of the reasons I decided to do the Christmas decorations this week - to calm my soul.  The songs are great and it's going to be a fun, exciting and great concert.  So I actually WANT to sing in it - it's just the anxiety I go through beforehand!
But I can do this/  My house is actually beautiful - calm - peaceful and joyful.  I've done a lot to prepare spiritually for Christmas this year.  My decorations are simple, but meaningful.  My heart is full and giving and I'm looking forward to all that this season will bring.

Gratitude For Blessings

Thanksgiving came and went last week.  As always, it was filled with lots of food, playing games and being with family and friends.
Our family dynamic has been strained over the past 6 months with decisions being made by my older children that have caused me a lot of reflection and various emotions.  Honestly, I wasn't quite sure how the Thanksgiving Holiday would go.  I am very much into peace and quiet in my home right now.  I'm shying away from all anxiety and stress and tend to cherish the moments of silence I find often in my home alone.
Because of the weather, our Thanksgiving Day plans were changed from our house to Kylie's house, as hers is more conducive to inside activities than ours is.  I still cooked most of the food and we took it over.  The day was actually fun - great food and a lot of it - games played by both the kids and the adults and then dad I left late that night to come home to a very quiet and clean house.  A fire was built and Del went to bed early, leaving me to enjoy the warmth of the fire and the quiet for my thoughts.  I took the opportunity to reflect on my blessings and the situation that I currently find my family in.  Although some situations of family life and the church have changed, I still love my children and grandchildren and the good people they are and the love they bring to the family.  Of course, eternal perspective of things may look a little different now, but I'm hoping that it hasn't changed enough that I lose all hope for my eternal family.
But sitting there in my home, reflecting on all the blessings and experiences I am enjoying in my life, I truly do realize that my family brings me comfort and joy.
Now, a few days later, the Christmas Season has arrived. 
Take each day as a blessing of another day here.
Enjoy each moment.
Love and be loved.
Serve and be served.
Give and receive with joy.
Acknowledge my Savior for who He is and what He has done for me.

Surprise!

It appears that two of our hens are in disguise!!  Apparently, we have TWO roosters out of our 18 hens!!  And just recently, they have been announcing themselves each morning with their newly found set of pipes!!  I love it, even though I don't want roosters.  But we'll keep them as long as they remain nice to all the ladies  The minute they get an attitude though, they're gone!!!

A Small Step Out of My Box

I love the safety and security of the little box I live in.
I don't go out much.
I don't socialize much.
I don't make friends.
BUT...I did last Saturday.  I had seen that a sister in the ward was having a 'pie party', where everyone is invited to bring a pie and come socialize and get to know others.  SOOOO out of my comfort zone.
But I went.  Had fun.  And lived through it....barely.
I figure, that in this next year, if I make the effort to do this once every month, that I might have a few new friends by the end of the year and feel a little more brave to do it again.

I Named Her 'Rolling'

The week before Thanksgiving, I woke on Thursday night at midnight with a sharp pain in my lower right side.  I lay in bed for a few hours, feeling the pain gradually intensify, until I finally went to my computer to do some google research as to what it might be.  I was pretty sure it was my appendix.
After two more hours of pain and in and out of the bathroom a dozen times, I woke Del up telling him I was going to drive myself to the hospital while I still could.  Del's work has been absolutely CRAZY the past few weeks, with his day beginning around 6:00 am and not finishing until right around 7:00 the same night.  I knew he would not be able to be with me.  But I also knew that if I waited any longer, I wouldn't be able to get myself to the ER.
Long story short....it was a stone: either a kidney stone or a gall stone.  And it hurt.  The pain was pretty intense and resulted with me in tears for a few hours.  I was there at 4:00 am and didn't receive any relief until about 10:00.  I had morphine, which did nothing, and then they gave me something else which did cut the pain.  But not knowing if the pain would return once the medicine wore off, they admitted me to the hospital to observe things for a few hours.  By 3:00, the assessed that the stone had passed from a CT scan and I was good to go home.  Kathryn and Ammon came to get me and take me and the car hone.  Del had come a few hours earlier to visit and check on me but wasn't able to stay.  Once I got home, I was fine, as if nothing had even happened.
I called my mother to tell her I was sure I had delivered a baby, so we decided to name the stone -
ROLLING....

Exactly

I just don't get it..

Such a Kind Gesture of Love

My bread baking business has been huge over the past three months.  I am baking every Tuesday and Friday, and then I introduced to my choir group and added another baking day of Thursday.  I was using my reliable Bosch that I have had for over 30 years and it was suffering over the past month with squealing aches and pains.  I mentioned all of this on facebook, just as information for my followers of comings and goings.  A few days later, a large package came from Wayfair for me.  Inside, was a brand new Bosch.  Ammon and Kathryn informed me it was a gift, from my brother Garth.  Now THAT stopped me dead in my tracks.  The reason he gave for such a kind gesture?  He wanted me to know he loved me. 
I was humbled....and grateful.  And I let him know of my gratitude and love for him too.

Saturday Slime Day

Madison and Lucy LOVE slime.
Well, a few weeks ago when I was over at their house, I happened to be cleaning up the kitchen and found two bowls on the table, of which contained this awful looking stuff that I thought was left over food.  I of course, washed out the bowls that I was later told, was indeed, slime.  Madi was sad I had thrown it away, so I promised to buy her new.
Del and I took it over Saturday morning and the fun began..

'Resting" Watching BYU Sports

A month or so ago, Del hurt his foot.  He can't pinpoint when the moment was, but it has been hurting ever since.  Del is not one to rest much and there isn't much that will keep him down.  But this foot issue has definitely slowed him down.  So he's been wearing this boot while he's been home.  And of course, with it being BYU football AND basketball season, I am giving him plenty of opportunities to rest, while watching BYU sports with me!
We've added a new treat to our game time ritual too - homemade Orange Julius!!  LOVE THEM!!

Season's are Changing

November brought a lot of rain and cooler temperatures.  Our creek in the back filled up several times and then over the following weeks, the color of the leaves began to change.  Last Sunday, as I was backing into my parking place, I saw this Beautiful tree in my rear view mirror, lit up with bright red leaves.  I was so grateful to a Heavenly Father who would allow such a beautiful part of nature to touch my heart.
After we came home from church, it was such a lovely warm day, that I decided to do my scripture study of Come Follow Me out on the back lawn.  Del came out and joined me after awhile and we were able to enjoy an hour of study together and enjoying the day at the same time.  Of course, Del's eyes began to wander around the yard and soon enough, he was finding and rake and began leveling out one of our garden beds.  I reminded him that it was Sunday AND he was in one of his better suite!  His reply, 'It's not breaking the Sabbath day if I'm still in my suit'.

My World

These people are the core of my joy in life.
Of course, I love their parents too, but these 6 people have my heart.

Pumpkin Carving With the Other Lott's

Ammon has a little recording studio in his office and Emerson had some songs he wanted to sing.

Little Evie loves lounging on Uncle Ammon and Aunt Chica's bed, watching Disney shows.